McGee, whose 12 career victories all came via first-round stoppage, will fight for the first time since a title loss to then-champ Tim Sylvia and a subsequent two-fight losing streak with PRIDE.

The Florida-based XFC organization confirmed the 31-year-old’s return to competition on Tuesday.

In one of the more interesting press releases we’ve run across, the XFC detailed an apparent roller-coaster of emotions McGee experienced with his title shot.

After knocking out Pedro Rizzo and Alexandre Dantas, McGee earned a fight with Sylvia.

From the release:

Reigning champion Tim Sylvia — who’s a 6-foot-8 colossus in his own right — overpowered McGee, stopping him by TKO (at) 1:54 in the first round. Many at ringside were shocked by the ease of his victory. But if there were any suspicions regarding the source of Sylvia’s surprising power, they were arguably confirmed in a post-fight drug test: Sylvia tested positive for Stanozolol, the same anabolic steroid that cost sprinter Ben Johnson the gold medal in the 1988 Summer Olympics. He was stripped of his heavyweight title, suspended from action for six months, and fined $10,000 by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Sylvia later admitted to knowingly taking the steroids, claiming they were used to shed excess body weight. The UFC decided to count Sylvia’s victory in its official record books anyway, effectively pushing McGee out of the heavyweight title picture.”

McGee never fought in the UFC again.

“Tim Sylvia is a great fighter and the videotape doesn’t lie: He beat the hell out of me,” McGee stated in a press release. “Did the steroids make a difference? Different people have different theories, I guess. But for me, what hurt the most was sacrificing absolutely everything I had to finally achieve my dream of becoming a world champion — and then falling short. And when it became clear that UFC wasn’t going to consider me for a second title shot, my entire world collapsed. I felt like a part of me had just died. It was … beyond devastating.”

McGee then headed to Japan to fight in PRIDE, where he suffered a split-decision loss to Heath Herring and a first-round submission loss to Semmy Schilt. That last bout — in April 2004 — was the last time he fought professionally.

“Culturally and personally, being in Japan was an amazing experience,” McGee stated. “I mean, from the ceilings to the shower fixtures, everything is so small over there — I felt a little like Godzilla trampling the villagers. But professionally, I never really recovered from the Sylvia fight. Mentally, I lost that edge — that killer instinct. Call it the ‘Eye of the Tiger’ or whatever you want; I was just going through the motions, unfocused and uncaring. And after losing my second fight in the Orient, I swore to myself that I would never step foot in a steel cage again — not until I regain my warrior’s mentality.”

Apparently, he found it.

McGee will return Sept. 13 to fight for the Florida-based XFC, a top regional promotion that has drawn more than 10,000 spectators in each of his past four three shows.

The Sept. 13 event — XFC’s “Salute to Our Armed Forces V” — takes place at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla.

“It took years of introspection and self-discovery, but I finally realized that God made me a giant and blessed me with this mind-blowing power for a reason: to be the most destructive heavyweight champion that’s ever walked on planet Earth,” McGee stated. “Writers write, teachers teach — and giants destroy. For so many years I tried to run away from my destiny — to be something I’m not — but that part of my life has come to a screeching halt. My intensity level is off the charts right now; if I’ve gotta tear down buildings, smash open skulls or annihilate whole cities to get another title shot, then that’s what I’ll do. This time around, ‘The Giant’ will stand tall.”

McGee will meet Ivey, a 10-year journeyman fighter who has won nine of his past 11 fights.

“Everyone likes to run their mouth — right until they’re smashed in the face with a fist or knee,” Ivey said. “McGee should’ve stayed retired.”

ALBANY, N.Y. – MMAjunkie is on scene and reporting live from today’s UFC Fight Night 102 event at Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y., which kicks off at 5:45 p.m. ET (2:45 p.m. PT). You can discuss the event here.

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